Bonds Talks Cabrera, Leyland and Passion For Coaching (And Miggy Replies!)
By Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
By now, Barry Bonds had heard enough questions about Miguel Cabrera.
"He's great. I mean to me, it's just like we're asking dumb questions, that's what it looks like. He's f**cking great," Bonds laughed. "That's it. Let's move on to something else now that's more challenging than Cabrera. To me, he's f**cking great!"
So the reporters changed the topic, at least for a moment, and indulged the seven-time MVP in questions about his profession – which just so happens to be an area of his expertise. Bonds is the hitting coach for the Miami Marlins, who are in Detroit for a two-game series ending Wednesday afternoon.
Asked about the challenge of imparting a skill he made look so easy, Bonds wouldn't take the bait.
"A good hitter could not teach – that's just such a false statement that you guys (the media) make. It's just unbelievably false," Bonds said.
The suggestion that the best players don't always make the best coaches isn't unfounded. Wayne Gretzky, for his part, struggled as a coach in the NHL, finding it hard to hold his players to a lesser standard than the one he had kept for himself. Asked if he is confronted by the same dilemma, Bonds again brushed the notion aside.
"I don't buy that for one minute. Wayne Gretzky is the only one who's that good, you can't expect anyone to be that good, okay? That's insane," Bonds laughed. "To me, I don't expect any player to be me. I expect them to be who they are and the best that they can be and if that happens to be better than me, then god bless them."
As a former superstar, Bonds said he thoroughly enjoys watching baseball's next crop of greats. He mentioned Giancarlo Stanton and Bryce Harper, in particular, explaining their raw talent reminds him of his younger self.
"That's what's fun to see, that's what I like to see: those younger guys, because you see yourself in those kind of guys. You look back and you're like, 'Wow man, I remember those days. Look at all that talent he has.'…That's what I like to reminisce about more so," Bonds said.
Eventually, though, the conversation circled back to Cabrera, a player with whom Bonds said he has "the best relationship." Bonds commended Cabrera for winning a Triple Crown, recalling he nearly pulled off the same accomplishment in 1993.
"It's awesome, it's a hard feat to do. To be able to be that complete of a hitter, to have it all – it's pretty impressive," he said.
So is Cabrera a better hitter than Bonds was?
"Are you serious?" the home run champ replied incredulously. "C'mon dude, not even close."
Really? It's not even close?
"He's close to me," Bonds allowed, "but he's not better than me, no. It's not even fair. That's like putting us in a [rivalry] that doesn't need to be there. I don't think that's right to do. I think it's a cheap shot to even both of us. Like, am I a better hitter than Tony Gwynn? Hell no. Am I a better hitter than Ichiro? No. Not consistent-contact hitting, no way. I know where I stand. I'm not in their category."
Speaking of Ichiro, Bonds sounded more like a young fan than a former player. The 42-year old is batting .336 for the Marlins and closing in on 3,000 MLB hits, awing Bonds – and the rest of the baseball world – with his ability to turn back time.
"Amazing. It's amazing to see that. It's unbelievable. I just love it. Every time I watch him it's like your mouth drops. His preparation, the way he gets ready every day, how hard he works, just his ability to hit the ball, his technique, his IQ – it's so high. I mean, wow. It's like I tell these guys: he's one guy you need to look at."
Bonds made his MLB debut in 1986 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Making his managerial debut for that same team was Jim Leyland, future skipper of the Tigers. Asked what he took away from their relationship, Bonds was quick on the draw.
"His friendship," he replied. "We've been friends forever, and that'll never change. He was the best manager for me when I first came up in the game of baseball. I mean, I had great ones, don't get me wrong – Dusty [Baker] was good, I was lucky to have Felipe Alou – but to have your first manager doesn't even compare. He brought the best out of me which I liked."
Now, Bonds finds himself tasked with the same goal as the Marlins' hitting coach. And it's a mission he thoroughly enjoys.
"My job is just to find out what works for them. Whatever I can say or put in front of them that's going to ignite them, that's your job as coach.
"I have a lot of fun," he added. "I love it. It's long days, but I love it."
Postscript: The Tigers topped the Marlins, 7-5, on Tuesday night, buoyed by a three-run bomb from Cabrera in the fifth inning. After the game, Cabrera was asked about Bonds' comments on him as a hitter.
"I mean, he's the greatest hitter of all time, so to me I appreciate that. I need to keep working hard. I [saw] him play, I played against him, he was the sh*t, he was the man," said a smiling Cabrera.